First
off, about you as a person:
(1)
Where do
you live now, and where did you grow up?
I live in Philadelphia and grew up in the burbs.
(2) Which of the following best describes you:
(a) single (b) involved with someone (c) married (d) married with children
So my first thought here was the tv show – married with
children. Good god, I’m happy I’m not
them! I’ll take married for $500.
I know people who would take ‘divorced’ for that price.
For the record, I’ve got five kids. But if I could get $500 for each
one, I might consider selling… Joking - they’re the best thing in my life.
(3) Do you have a real job, or does your
writing pay the bills?
Am I to understand the underlying assumption-being an author
is no longer a respected career path?
[Not at all. I’d say it’s a very respected career path, but only
a few make enough to live on.]
In all seriousness, I can’t imagine just writing. I need a
balance of right and left brain activity.
I love the escape of the story and enjoy getting caught up in a fairy
tale. There is challenge inherent in the
process – making believable characters, story lines, and of course the
sex. I use Barbie dolls sometimes to act
out user actions so I make sure the visual is realistic.
So, you were asking about a real job? I left corporate America years ago and
actively work on staying out of it. I
balance a variety of “gigs”, if you will to pay the bills. I’m an entrepreneur,
consultant and author. I recently
started an ecommerce site focused on curated sex toys. So often, when I am out and about – people
don’t know where to start. There are too
many toys. Have you been to the tooth paste aisle? It’s worse for sex toys. There are so many different objectives. It can be overwhelming. Our goal at playfulaging.com is to deliver
you best match to accomplish your goals. It’s time we Warby Parker the sex toy
industry! https://www.playfulaging.com/
The name made me smile. I like the idea of aging playfully.
(4) Of the places you’ve visited, where was
your favourite?
Wow, that’s a tough one.
I’m going to have to say, Nepal.
I was lucky enough to go before the earthquake that destroyed many of
the historic sites. It was a personal
experience, one that really helped me redefine who I wanted to be and who I let
dictate who I could be.
(5) Is there anywhere you haven’t been that
you’d love to visit?
Yes – Machu Picchu. I
love the idea of unplugging for three to five weeks and giving myself the space
to day dream and not get caught up in the day-to-day drudgery. We do so much
that we think we have to, and rarely take time to imagine what we want to do. Changing your environment, perspective and
expectations allows you to experience life differently, opens you in a way that
isn’t possible staying close to home and being constantly busy.
(6) How do you spend your spare time when
you’re not working, sleeping or writing?
Spare time – I love to move – weight training, outdoors
activities, rock climbing, dancing, trapeze, kayaking. If I can do something outdoors and move, that’s
even better.
Sounds like fun, although some of your hobbies sound a bit dangerous to
me…
…with some more dangerous than
others !
I also really enjoy activities that might fall in the
working bucket – research, attending events, conferences, teaching….
Okay,
moving on to your writing:
(7) Is Ginger
Segreti your real name or a pseudonym?
Can I say, I’m not telling?
If I have to, Ginger is my scene name – does that count?
(8) I write under a female penname, yet I’m a
guy. So, Cock or Minge?
I know the question based on your context but when I see the
word minge- I think of mange and animals that haven’t been tended.
It’s weird how your mind works… Minge is one of my favourite words. In
fact, I prefer minge to cock :-)
Are you familiar with Fetlife? You know, this question has more than two
answers in today’s society. Try setting
up a profile for Fetlife and figure out how you characterize yourself. It’s not a binary system!
I realise that, and I can think of several possible answers to my
question:
(i)
Cock
(ii)
Minge
(iii)
Both
(iv)
Neither
(v)
Yes please
One of the things I love about writing – I can be whomever I
want – no restrictions except my imagination.
(9) Would I be correct in guessing that you’re
a redhead?
I’m sassiest as a redhead.
(10) How many people who know you in real life
are aware that you write smut?
Too many at this point!
I was in the closet for a while and then a friend introduced me to a
potential client under the preface that I wrote and basically the combination
of my other skills plus this one – would make me the perfect consultant. That
was the beginning of the end.
It’s pretty interesting to see
people’s reaction – although I don’t lead with that. Only if it comes up.
(11) Do you remember your first dirty story, and
why you wrote it?
I thought I could do better than what was out there. A lot of my life activities are challenge
related. I love to read. One of my goals is to have a book on an end cap. I may
need to branch out in genre. I really
like writing sex though. I have a few
books that I attempted to write mainstream and my characters end up in
compromising situations.
(12) Why do you write erotica?
I enjoy the subject, the set up–the fantasy. I have a few less sex, more “story” stories
in process but they led me in a different direction and I got stuck. I’m not sure how to untangle the
plotlines. And it’s challenging to pick
and choose scenes and interactions that progress the story while alluding to
the day-to-day activities of people without getting mired in the pleasantries
and banalities.
Largely most of our life is boring. A book is like the
highlight reel. As a writer it’s your job to find the most important scenes and
give the perfect amount of detail to engage but not overwhelm the reader. Their
brain needs plot to process and information to fill in the blanks.
(13) If someone reading this interview had never
heard of you, how would you describe your stories?
Kinky. I have a few
swinger – threesome, foursome stories, exhibition, fantasy, BDSM. I write partially fantasy, partially life
inspired tales. It’s probably not the
best way to build a reader base – because I don’t stick with one genre. I would
say I am a Jackett of all trades, Mistress of none.
(14) What’s the nicest thing anyone’s said about
your writing?
I wish I kept a better list of comments. I like getting people hot and bothered so
comments like a “steamy romp” and “hot dish” are fun. Now I’m thinking I need to get out there and
do more promo work, so I can better answer this questions!
(15) What’s the nastiest thing anyone’s said
about your writing?
There hasn’t been any really nasty words – it’s more
constructive criticism on how the story was structured. Each person has their own expectations, especially
in genres that have tropes and people anticipate a certain story arch and
resolution. When you buck that, you risk
pissing people off. I don’t tend to do
anything conventional so, I’m open to the outcomes. It’s the only way to innovate, regardless of
the subject.
(16) Do you write in other genres under other
pennames?
Not yet – good idea.
There is a certain authority figure that I’ve been dying to write a
fictional story about though. We’ll see.
(17) Talk us through your writing process. Do
you have definite plot-lines, or just start writing and see where the characters
take you?
Yes and No. I’ve
crafted stories with plot-lines and without. Much of my writing has been about
a challenge – whether it’s a style challenge, a format challenge. For example, when Grey came out I’d read the
reviewers questioning whether E. L. James actually changed the book or took the
same narrative and swapped out some copy. I decided to try my hand at writing
one story from two different perspectives, and My Muse, A Literary Salon First
was born.
(18) What’s your most satisfying writing moment?
When I get the feel of the words, just “write” – the scene,
the emotions come together and it’s like sensual poetry. I’ve captured the
texture of the moment and crafted the context with enough information to
deliver the moment, and left enough to the reader’s imagination to craft their
perfect fantasy.
(19) I know many writers of smut get derogatory
comments through social media. Do you get these, and how do you cope? Have you
ever been sent pictures of men’s tackle? [For the record, I’m still waiting for
my first photo of women’s bits; my email address in on my website J]
I have seen many cocks, large, small, angled, cut, uncut,
pierced. My favorite – a picture of a
cock compared to a Gatorade bottle. One
day I’d like to make a book cover highlighting all the pics!
Anger is fear in public. There is something about what I’m
doing that frightens people because it may call into question their definition
of gender or sexuality. It’s not me. It’s something in them, that I stir that
makes them upset. For us as a society to
reach a better place, we need to help these people to get past their fears and
show them that a society that values pleasure and happiness and sexual openness
is a good and safe place, that it won’t undermine family or other concerns that
they have. People fear the unknown. It’s
biology. We need to show them that which they fear, to help them get past it.
(20) If someone was going on holiday and could
take only one book by each author with them, which of yours would you
recommend, and why?
Can We Have A Foursome, I like the balance of story and sex
in this one. I worked on portraying the real complexity of engaging with other
people and couples in swinging. Sex is such a personal experience. When we
branch out with other people, there are different issues we need to address. A
significant other is someone you’ve built a life with. A new partner doesn’t
have that bond. You all of the sudden need to respect the existing bond, while
enjoying the new partner and contributing to a circumstance where everyone is
comfortable and engages in activities that are mutually wanted.
(21) Are there any subjects you wouldn’t be
comfortable writing about or including in your stories?
I struggle with remaining sex-positive and portraying
non-consensual circumstances.
(22) If you could act out any scene from one of
your stories, which character would you play, and what does the scene involve?
Why does this particular scene appeal?
I like all of the scenes. I wrote them.
When writing scenes I think through the appeal of being in
each circumstance, so your question is really challenging.
The one that comes to mind, isn’t published yet. It’s a Mistress going to the Pleasure Garden Sex
Club in Philadelphia. She’s meeting a guy to act out his fantasy of being a Sub
in public….
(23) Do you set yourself targets? What are your
long-term writing goals?
I had set myself targets when I first started writing. And
then life got in the way. I need chunks
of undisturbed time to progress my stories.
For the moment, I’ve focused on finishing some of the short
stories I had started. As I mentioned earlier – I want to be on an end cap. I
need a few other things in life to fall into place before I can dedicate more
time to writing again.
(24) What are you writing at the moment?
Short stories. I’m looking at alternatives to build audience
and drive traffic. I’m also focusing on a new sex toy shop so I’m writing a lot
of copy around toys and blog posts.
(25) I know you’re diversifying into
audio-books; tell us a little about that.
I like to keep up on innovation in technology. Sex tech is a
burgeoning industry. Imagine – dolls, VR, audio – a completely immersive
experience with no STI risk. We enjoy gadgets for every other hobby and
activity. Sex is no different.
Audio is a nice alternative for those who like stories and
don’t especially enjoy reading or people who enjoy audio but don’t necessarily
want the visual. I’m currently working
with Vibease and exploring a partnership with two other audio focused
companies. The stories are shorter, more
erotic focused. https://www.vibease.com/fantasyerotica?search=Ginger%20Segreti
(26) Last Question: For twitter, I’ve invented
my own hashtag, #bmbtaf, which stands for Buy My Books, They’re About Fucking.
What hashtag can you come up with to help your sales?
I’m playing with a social media strategy that works for me.
I rather jump on the hashtag bandwagon someone else set up and use as
appropriate. I like #literaryporn as
writing that can be well written and sensual.
If you come up with one that is snappy, low character count and
intuitive, sign me up!
What? Are you suggesting #bmbtaf won’t catch on? Bah - I’m gutted…
Thanks
Ginger, great to have you on here.
People
can find out more about Ginger’s work using the following links. She assures me
she’s most active on twitter and facebook:
You
can also get a free story about her naughty secret by signing up for her
newsletter:
Books
and Blurbs…
Helen is almost done finishing
school, where the Mistresses of Grace, Charm and Beauty instruct the girls in
proper etiquette and form, teaching the art of dignity, beauty and sensuality.
To encourage the utmost adherence to these principles, the Mistresses deliver
expedient punishment when the girls require it, each classroom equipped with a
Pandora’s Box of contrivances to deliver appropriate discipline.
Helen’s attention is torn between her teacher, Mistress Charm whose unique
blend of dominance and femininity stirs Helen to dream of kissing Mistress’
boots and her boyfriend, Theseus, whose sinewy muscles and commanding presence
causes her to question her place as dominant or submissive.
****
It’s Johnny’s first time at the
Literary Salon. He captivates the crowd as he delivers his plea, begging his
muse to reappear, to permit him to give her a glimpse of the excitement she has
shown him. Watch the tale unfold through her eyes as well as his as they both
experience My Muse.
****
Catalina is a dark haired Latin beauty
with an hourglass figure and an ass that pops. She considers herself a lesbian
top. Her girlfriend Ginger is a rebellious, red-headed Aquarius who’s half
hippie, half career woman. Her sexual identity is in flux and in her secret
dreams she sometimes sees a husband. Both ladies want kids, but first they need
some sperm.
Catalina suggests advertising for a
threesome and their sexual odyssey begins. Ginger thinks of it as playing the
lottery and enjoys the newfound undercurrent of sex in her day-to-day. Catalina
enjoys Ginger’s jump-started libido. It’s as if they were newly dating again.
Their email floods with responses
ranging from phallic to financial. Fantasies abound and new boundaries forge as
both ladies explore unchartered territory.
Choosing a man who likes to be
aggressive but loves being submissive they head out for their first threesome…
****
Ginger’s red hair and Aquarius
spirit commands discipline. She’s always in control. Her hot Latin beauty of a
girlfriend, Catalina, used to be content with pushing her buttons, like a good
brat, until their extracurricular fun starts giving Catalina ideas.
It wasn’t the failed threesome nor
the looking, Catalina’s first taste of what Ginger’s been dishing comes
innocently enough. One of their playdates yearns to be dominated. Catalina’s
caught holding the leash just when Ginger sets her sights on a new couple, Jake
and Julia. With the stakes set higher and a new goalpost laid, will their
relationship take the strain as Catalina explores domination and Ginger tries
to score a foursome?
****
I have a naughty secret—I like to
read with a vibrator. Not just any vibrator. My travel friendly, is always
ready and waiting, never disappoints, Nova. The story doesn’t have to be smut
or porn. It can be intellectual, self-help, mundane, fiction or non. The
literature doesn’t matter. It’s a game I play.
****
Good to hear what Ginger's up to now :) And I like the cover of 'How about a Foursome'.
ReplyDeleteI approve of those hobbies...wish I had the facilities for half of those!